Martha Wells -

Apr. 24th, 2008

9:46 AM

I wanted to pass along this link from

arcaedia: As reported in Publishers Weekly and elsewhere, President Bush's proposed 2009 budget eliminates all funding for RIF, which has provided more than 325 million books to underprivileged children since 1966.

I've been part of book drives for public schools who literally could not afford to have a library or to buy books for kids to practice reading, let alone fiction for them to read just for fun, in areas where the nearest public library was too far away to visit. Losing RIF is just going to make the situation so much worse.

You can support RIF by using their form here to send an email to your senators and house representatives (it'll fill their addresses in for you based on your zip code) or by making a donation.

If you can, please pass this link along.

Comments

( Leave a comment )

mahoni wrote:

Apr. 24th, 2008 03:13 pm (UTC)

But children and schools don't need books. Gee whiz. Crazy liberal thinking, is what that is.

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marthawells wrote:

Apr. 24th, 2008 03:48 pm (UTC)

Yeah, it's just infuriating.

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encorecrazay wrote:

Apr. 24th, 2008 03:29 pm (UTC)

Thanks for posting this. When I first visited my sister in rural North Dakota in the 1970's, they didn't have a public library and Vista volunteer was setting one up.

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marthawells wrote:

Apr. 24th, 2008 03:46 pm (UTC)

Yep, I've been to a lot of small towns here that only have a public library because a local family was wealthy and liked books, and paid to have one built and maintained.

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miketo wrote:

Apr. 24th, 2008 03:39 pm (UTC)

This picture explains all.

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marthawells wrote:

Apr. 24th, 2008 03:47 pm (UTC)

It really does.

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renegade500 wrote:

Apr. 24th, 2008 05:18 pm (UTC)

HAHAHA - and he looks so puzzled by the book, too...

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marthawells wrote:

Apr. 24th, 2008 05:31 pm (UTC)

"What is this thing, 'book?'"

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renegade500 wrote:

Apr. 24th, 2008 05:34 pm (UTC)

Brain? What is this thing, brain?

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elynross wrote:

Apr. 24th, 2008 04:36 pm (UTC)

The first two people I mentioned this two responded with a variation of, "Well, clearly GWB knows how far you can get without bothering with reading!!!"

omfg. I despair. Look, another issue to hone my rage! I will have well-rounded rage. Or rage with many sharp points.

(Thanks for the link)

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marthawells wrote:

Apr. 24th, 2008 05:37 pm (UTC)

Yes, it makes me crazy!

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bfly wrote:

Apr. 24th, 2008 04:48 pm (UTC)

Yes, well, now... all that THINKING is what leads to trouble. Gives children ideas, it does. We can't have that.

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sobelle wrote:

Apr. 24th, 2008 05:12 pm (UTC)

Thanks for the link. I sent it on to my sons and friends... and everyone else I thought who understands how important education is.

Although I've got to wonder (I am a cynic after all) if this isn't part and parcel of a grand scheme to keep the poor and disenfranchised uneducated and available to be cannon fodder in the future of Imperial America.

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renegade500 wrote:

Apr. 24th, 2008 05:20 pm (UTC)

Although I've got to wonder (I am a cynic after all) if this isn't part and parcel of a grand scheme to keep the poor and disenfranchised uneducated and available to be cannon fodder in the future of Imperial America.

I'm pretty cynical too, I think the same thing.

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renegade500 wrote:

Apr. 24th, 2008 05:19 pm (UTC)

I'm saddened to say this so does not surprise me. This administration has clearly shown time and again it cares not at all for education.

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denynothing1 wrote:

Apr. 24th, 2008 06:05 pm (UTC)

Thanks for the link -- I will definitely pass it along.

I just... don't even know what to say anymore. They really do want to send us back to the Dark Ages, don't they?

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j_cheney wrote:

Apr. 24th, 2008 06:08 pm (UTC)

Just a note, some constituencies--such as the entire state of Oklahoma--are not participating in this campaign. The representatives and senators have not agreed to look at this petition.

But I can pester people outside my state to pester their reps ;o)

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